Get Your Feet in Shape for Spring!

After hibernating all winter, nothing beats getting outside and getting active at the first sign of spring weather. The sudden jump in activity after months of laying low with little to no activity increases the risk for developing foot pain. Most commonly, we see stress fractures in the foot and the development of heel pain known as plantar fasciitis. Stress fractures are often brought on by a sudden increase in activity or poor choices in footwear and can present as deep aching foot pain with warmth and swelling. Plantar fasciitis results from inflammation of the band extending from the heel to the toes known as the plantar fascia and causes aching stabbing pain in the heel on first rising which worsens with standing and walking. Luckily, both conditions generally heal easily, but must be caught and treated early.

Summertime brings on warmer temps and the switch from heavier footwear to sandals and flip flops. While flip flops are a nice way to free up your feet, the lack of arch support and stability can create abnormal stress on the foot and ankle. This lack of support can not only lead to plantar fasciitis but other tendon and ligament problems as well. Sandal season also offers an opportunity to examine your feet more closely after a long winter of neglect- lumps, bumps, corns and calluses may now be more apparent and need attention. Skin rashes, nails that have thickened or changed in color or texture should be examined by your foot and ankle physician. 

Spring /summer is the time for picnics, pool parties and enjoying the outdoors—not for suffering with foot pain. Follow these tips for keeping your feet pain-free this summer: 1. Don’t walk barefoot-  cuts and puncture wounds can easily become infected. 2. Apply sunscreen to your feet to protect against sunburn and skin cancers. 3. Wear socks to avoid fungal infections, blisters and calluses. Change socks as necessary to keep feet dry. 4. Don’t pop blisters. These are a natural barrier to infection. 5. Don’t fall for fashion trends. When buying sandals, make sure they provide arch support and heel cushioning. 6. Wear larger shoes to accommodate swollen feet, especially if you work outside. 7. Stay hydrated to avoid leg cramps and muscle spasms. 8. Warm up and stretch before exercising and cool down and stretch afterward to prevent injury. 9. If your feet hurt, come see us! Foot and ankle pain shouldn’t be ignored. Oberlin Foot and Ankle 440-774-1100. 

Simple Advice on Diabetic Foot Care

 03-16-2021

Diabetes is a common condition that affects 34.2 million American adults. Today there are many more options and advancements in the way diabetes is managed, and many diabetics are able to live normal lifestyles. That being said, having diabetes does predispose someone to specific complications and concerns that should be kept in mind. These include foot ulcers, impaired wound healing, neuropathy, dry skin, as well as increased incidence of retinopathy, kidney and vascular disease. It is always easier to prevent complications, than it is to treat them.

In order to help prevent complications from diabetes, it is important to carefully manage diabetes, which may mean having a close relationship with your primary care physician and or endocrinologist. Consistently high blood sugars can lead to damage in multiple organ systems. Hemoglobin A1c is the lab used to determine how blood sugar is on average over a several months period. It is also extremely important to perform daily foot care to help prevent diabetic foot complications. Below is a basic list of diabetic foot care do’s and don’ts. As always if you have any specific questions or concerns discuss them with your doctor.

• Inspect your feet daily. Call your podiatrist if you notice any new calluses, dark areas, bleeding, drainage or unusual lesions. 

• Be sure to look between toes.

• If you can’t easily see the bottoms of your feet, try using a handheld mirror or sitting on a chair in front of a full-length mirror.

• Notify your doctor if you notice any new sudden increase in pain, swelling, redness, skin color or temperature changes, wounds, drainage or bleeding.

• Foot checks and routine nail care can be performed by your podiatrist about every 9 weeks with most insurance companies. 

• Clean feet gently daily. Test water temperature with a thermometer to avoid serious burns on parts of your body with neuropathy.

• Avoid using hot water

• Try using a baby bath temperature indicator, which can be found at most department or grocery stores

• Moisturize dry skin, avoid putting lotion between toes. 

• Lotion with urea works well for dry, callused skin (ie. Flexitol heel balm)

• Never walk barefoot

• Change socks daily, inspect socks for any signs of drainage or excessive wear patterns, these should be discussed with your podiatrist.

• Diabetic socks are designed to avoid compression. They can also be worn inside out if you notice the seams are irritating your skin. 

• Shake out shoes or check inside before wearing. If you have neuropathy you may not notice a pebble or object in your shoe.

• Do not use any sharp tools around your feet especially if your sensation is impaired. 

• Avoid cutting your own calluses or using ‘medicated’ pads – discuss new or worsening calluses with your doctor

• Neuropathy can sometimes cause numbness, burning, tingling or pain in the feet. If you think you have neuropathy, let your podiatrist and primary care physician know. 

References:

• CDC “What is Diabetes?” https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/basics/diabetes.html

• American Diabetes Association www.diabetes.org

 

03/12/2021  Thank you for visiting our blog and we look forward to interacting with you.

We at Oberlin Foot and Ankle are excited to bring you useful information about podiatric conditions and the latest advancements in foot and ankle care. This blog will also be used to post updates about our practice and keep in touch with our patients.

We invite you to share this information with your friends and family. If you have a question about our practice or something you’ve seen in the news, please call the office at 440-774-1100.